Public Comment Request for County Commission

Since presenting our Conservation Overlay Proposal and Petition request to City Council for a moratorium on development until a plan (by task force) is developed for sensitive areas around Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, and especially the Gans Creek Wild Area, and since defeating the developer’s latest building request last month, there’s been talk of needing County-City planning and protection for the area around Rock Bridge, especially Gans Creek Wild Area.

Thus far, many of us have submitted public comment to the City, and we’ve made ourselves heard loud and clear. So now is the time to tell the County Commissioners how YOU feel about protecting this wild area from development. 

Please share your personal experiences, feelings and thoughts about protecting this precious and irreplaceable resource. If interested, also checking back in with the City Council and asking them to move forward on setting up the Gans Creek overlay task force in coordination with the county could not hurt either.

Submit your public comments to:

Justin Aldred, District I Commissioner
801 East Walnut, Room 333
Columbia, MO  65201-7732
573-886-4308 (direct)
jaldred@bonecountymo.org

Janet Thompson, District II Commissioner
801 East Walnut, Room 333
Columbia, MO 65201-7732
573-886-4305 (Commission office)
jthompso@boonecountymo.org

Dan Atwill, Presiding Commissioner
801 East Walnut, Room 333
Columbia, MO 65201-7732
573-886-4305 (Commission office)
datwill@boonecountymo.org

Letter example (please add your own personal talking points and experiences):

Dear Commissioner (Thompson, Atwill, Aldred)

The area around Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, and especially the Gans Creek Wild Area, needs a plan by Boone County, in coordination with Columbia, to ensure the long-term protection of this precious and irreplaceable resource for the county, city and state.

Name
Address

Talking Points:

• Personal experiences in Gans Creek Wild Area
• The Gans Creek Wild Area is one of only 12 designated Wild Areas in Missouri
• Gans Creek is one of only 44 Outstanding State Resource Waters in Missouri
• Rock Bridge Park and the Gans Creek Wild Area have thousands of visits yearly and host many educational youth events
• The park is an important engine for economic growth, both through tourism and the quality of life that helps employers attract and keep good employees.
• Support a moratorium or delay on development
• Create a special task force to work on a plan to protect sensitive areas like these
• Encourage that the city and county include robust stakeholder participation, keeping the public process open, accepting input